Ups and Down of Stair Towers: Improving Comfort and IAQ

Abstract

Designs of stairways are highly code-regulated for life-safety reasons. Today, for improved environmental sustainability as well as better personal health, popular advice says to use the stairs instead of an elevator whenever practical. However enclosed stair towers often suffer from poor temperature control and “stuffiness,” are uninviting in appearance, or are inconveniently located. For new buildings there is opportunity to make stairways attractive choices for occupants to use regularly. This article discusses a study1 concerning thermal comfort and indoor air quality (IAQ) in enclosed stair towers and looks at the effect of placement of HVAC terminal units to test a popular design rule-of-thumb.